Panel fastener



March 14, 1939. 14 WOODALL PANEL FASTENER Filed Sept. 4, 1936 INVENTOR. l/l/ooc/a I BY %Muaj m* ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFriE PANEL FASTENER Application September 4, 1936, Serial No. 99,344

7 Claims.

My invention relates to improved means for securing a panel, such as an automobile nterior trim panel, or other similar structural element to a supporting frame.

An object is to provide improved releasable fastening means which function to snugly secure a panel or the like to a supporting frame so` that the panel is held to the frame against looseness, rattle or accidental detachment.

This improved fastening connection operates in such a manner that tension is exerted on the panel tending to Stretch the same across the frame and also to hold the panel laterally against the frame.

This improved connection is so formed that it is not necessary to provide the panel foundation board with a plurality of fastener receiving apertures or the like which tend to weaken the board. Neither is it necessary to provide the panel supporting element with a plurality of fastene-r rece-iving apertures but the attachment is: made over the edge of such supporting element. The supporting element may therefore take the form of a narrow ledge or strip. When such supporting elements are provided with fastener receiving apertures they must possess substantial width and the apertures must be positioned to correspond to the position of the fastener on the panel. With the instant improvement such width of strip and exact aperturing thereof is wholly eliminated.

This improved Construction includes a part secured to the rear face of the panel which part projects toward the edge of the panel and over the edge of the panel supporting element and behind the same and is securely held thereto against accidental withdrawal from its position of engagement therewith. A plurality of these devices are provided along the rear face of determined margins of the panel to engage rear- 40 wardly of the panel supporting elements to hold the panel thereto. i

An important characteristic' of the fastener is that it is adjustable, should the necessity arise, so that it may be taken up following installation of the panel to compensate for play which might have developed in the connection between the panel and the frame.

Another important feature is that the fastener is at all times accessible for ready removal or replacement of the panel.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious features of this improved structure will more fully appear from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a panel and supporting structure embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through a fragment of a structure such as shown in Fig. l but embodying a modified form of Construction,

Fig. 3 is a perspective of a part of the structure of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional View through a fragment such as shown -in Fig. 2 but employing a second modification,

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a fragment of a panel provided With a part of the construction shown in Fig. 4, and i Fig. 6 is a perspective of that part of the structure sho-wn in Fig. 4 which cooperates with the part shown in Fig. 5.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in three different Variations in the drawing. Each of these modifications is adapted to carry out the inventive thought.

The invention is shown in connection with a door panel such as is used'in automobile body Construction. Such panels are usually formed of cardboard trimmed with cloth or the ike. They are secured by fasteners of various types to the supporting metal frame work of the door. In Figs. 1 and 2 the outer metal door panel is indicated as ID. It is provided with a L-shaped supporting member having a leg l i upon which rests the interier trim panel. This trim panel comprises a foundation IZ of fiber board or the like which may be covered With cloth Hi. Padding i may cover the board underneath the cloth.

The trim panel supporting element as shown is angular in cross section and has a flangeor 2.'

short leg portion H which supports the trim panel and a long leg portion !3 which is apertured to receive fastener retainers i 8 which extend therethrough as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

In Fig. 1 the panel is provided upon its rear i face with a strip 2@ extending substantially parall-el to the -margin of the panel and projecting rearwardly therefrom. This strip has a beveled face which projects from the rear face of the panel at an acute angle thereto toward the margin of the panel so as to be received underneath the edge of the panel supporting fiange !i as shown. The strip may be secured to the panel foundation by staples 22 or the like.

Fastener retainers i 8 in the form of bolts or threaded members extend through the apertures provided in the leg portion !3 of the panel supporting element. These bolts engage or carry a threaded plate or strip 23 which is drawn thereby against the inner edge of the strip Zi urging said strip against the edge and rear face of the panel supporting flange Il holding the panel thereto. The bolts tension the panel across the area bridged thereby parallel to the plane of the panel and also, because of the angle of contact of the strip 20 with the fiange II, urge the panel laterally against the supporting face of such flange. While the strip 28 may extend entirely along the margin of the panel to engage therewith throughout substantially the entire length of the panel, it will be understood that the retaining bolts !8 may be provided merely at the corners. The strip 20 might be broken up into a series of spaced apart short sections secured to the panel at intervals. Likewise the plate 22 need not extend entirely along strip 20. It might consist merely of a short plate or section cooperating with each bolt IB.

The strip 20 may be provided along the vertical edges and along the bottom of the trim panel. To insert the panel in place the strip 22 would be backed outwardly on the bolts !8 so as to allow sufiicient space between such a strip and the edge of the flange for the reception of the iastening strip ZE] on the panel. One strip 20 might be inserted behind its cooperating flange and the panel then fiexed along a vertical line so that the other strip 29 might be inserted underneath the edge of its cooperating fiange H. As the panel is straightened out these strips would be urged against the edges of such flanges. It is understood that they would be so disposed on the panel as to assume this position upon fiattening of the panel. The panel would then be slipped downwardly so that the bottom strip 2& would be received rearwardly of the bottom fiange H. The top of the panel could be held in place by a garnish molding such as is commonly provided underneath a window opening in an automobile door. The retaining bolts is would then be tightened to draw the retaining plates 23 against the inner edges of the strips 20 urging said strips against the fianges i! and holding the panel securely in place.

In Figs. 2 and 3 my invention is shown as emhod'ed in a modified form of Construction wherein the panel oundation board is provided with a series of spaced apart headed studs 24 or the like. These studs might be secured thereto as shown in Fig. 2. The head of the stud projects spaced rearwardly from the rear face of the panel. These studs would be aligned along the vertical margins and along the bottom margin of the panel spaced from such margins. The fastener element might be in the form of a strip 26 or the like. This strip would extend along the margin of the panel. It is provided with apertures 28. The large ends of these apertures are receivable over the heads of the studs z. The strip might then be moved linearly to bring the studs within the small ,ends of the apertures securing the strip to the studs. The small ends of the apertures while preferably permitting flotation of the stud shanks therein to compensate for panel expansion and contraction engage the heads of the fasteners securing the strip to the panel.

Each strip is provided with portions 3!) projecting toward the margin of the panel. These portions are spaced slightly from the rear face of the panel. They are adapted to be received behind the ange i! of the panel supporting element as shown in Fig. 2. Certain of such portions as at the ends of the strip are turned over to provide a fiange portion 32 apertured as at 34. such aperture is adapted to receive a retaining bolt IB as shown in Fig. 2. The other portions 30 which are not adapted to receive retaining bolts would not be provided with parts 32. The strip 36 might be divided into small sections and the fragment shown in Fig. 3 might be divided to make up two sections. These small sections might be inserted over spaced apart pairs of studs. Certain of the sections only might be provided with the apertured end portions 32 to receive the retaining holes. The installation. and

'attachment of the panel would be substantially as described in conjunction with the Construction illustrated in Fig. 1.

In Figs. i, 5, and 6 a second modification is shown. In the embodiment illustrated in these figures the panel board !2 is provided on its rear face with a staple 36 or the like. This staple may be attached to the panel board in any convenient manner. One method of attachment is shown in Fig. 5. In conjunction with the staple a fastener such as is illustrated in p'erspective in Fig. 6 is used. This spring fastener is adapted to be engaged with the staple 36 as shown in Fig. 4. The leg 38 of the clip is received underneath the staple 36. This leg has an angular portion 40 which rests against the edge of the fiange H. The other leg of the clip has an apertured end portion 42 which is adapted to receive the retaining bolt !8 as shown in Fig. 4. Tightening up of the bolt draws the angular portion &ii against the edge of the fiange ll and pulls the panel against the supporting flange H and tensions the same within its plane.

It will be understood that those clips which are not adapted to cooperate with retaining bolts need not be provided with the apertured portions 42. In this Construction as in those heretofore described, the astener elements might be provided merely along the Vertical margins and bottom margin of the panel. The top margin of the panel might be held in place by a garnish molding or the like.

In each'of the constructions it will be seen that the rear face of the panel while provided with fastening elements is not so obstructed therewith as to prevent stacking of the panels. The fastening elements which form a permanent part of the panel board are relatively low and do not project therefrom to an appreciable height. If desired, of course the retaining bolts !8 might be omitted and the attachment obtained merely by the engagement of the fastening elements rearwardly of the flange H depending upon the inherent tension in the panel to hold it in place. If such retaining bolts are omitted, however, the attachment would not be so secure. Warping or buckling of the panel might serve to detach the same. Moreover the panel would not be held tightly against the fiange as is here illustrated and its attachment thereto would be less certain and it would be-more likely to become disengaged therefrom.

What I claim:

1. In combination with an L-shaped supporting element, a panel overlying one leg of said element, said panel provided with a part projecting rearwardly therefrom and at an acute angle thereto over the edge of said leg of the element and thereunderneath and a tightening member connecting said part and the other leg of said element adjustable to draw said part against the edge of said leg of the element and to draw the panel against the abutting face of said leg and across' said abutting face toward the other leg of the element.

2. In combination with an L-shaped supporting element, a panel overlying one leg of said element, a strip Secured to the rear face of the panel along and spaced from one margin thereof and projecting rearwardly of the panel and angularly toward said margin and underneath the edge of said leg of the supporting element, and fastening means extending through the other leg of the supporting element substantially parallel to the plane of the panel and having a part engagng the inner edge of said strip urging'the outer edge of the strip against the edge of the panel supporting element and drawing the panel across the panel supporting leg of said element toward the other leg of said element.

3. In combination with a panel supporting strip, a panel having a marginal portion overlying said strip, said panel having a fastener secured thereto and comprising a pair of opposed spring legs projecting away from the rear face of the panel toward its margin, one leg overlying the rear face of the panel and having an outer end projecting angularly outwardly therefrom, the other leg overlying the first leg and engaging the outwardly projecting end thereof holding the same yieldingly toward the panel.

4. In combination with a supporting element, a panel overlying one face of said element, said panel provided with a fastener having an angular face projecting rearwardly from the panel at an acute angle thereto and extending over the edge of and underneath said face portion of the element and means drawing the angular face of said fastener against the edge of said element and thereunderneath toward the margin of the panel.

5. In combination with a panel supporting element having angularly disposed face portions, a panel having a marginal portion overlying one face portion of the element, said panel provided with a fastener pro jecting rearwardly of the panel over the edge of and underneath said face portion and a fastener retainer extending through the other face portion of the element rearwardly of the panel and substantially parallel to the plane thereof engaging said fastener tensioning said panel across the panel supporting face of said supporting element toward the other angular face portion of said element and drawing said fastener against the edge of and underneath the panel supporting face portion of the element.

6. In combination with an L-shaped supporting element, a panel having a marginal portion overlying one leg of said element, said panel provided with a part projecting rearwardly of the panel and over the edge of the panel supporting leg of the L-shaped element thereunderneath, and ad- `'ustable means extending from said part toward the edge of the panel and through the other leg of the L-shaped supporting element and adjustable exteriorly of said other leg to tension said panel toward said o-ther leg of the L-shaped supporting element drawing the panel toward the edge of the panel over the panel supporting leg of the L-sh'aped. element.

7. In combination, a panel supporting frame comprising a pair of spaced apart L-shaped supporting elements having panel supporting legs projecting toward each other, a panel supported upon said legs, said panel provided with leg engagng parts projecting rearwardly from the panel over the edge of said panel supporting legs and thereunder, adjustable connecting means extending from each of said parts toward the edge of the panel and through the other leg of the L-shaped supporting element and adjustable therebeyond to tension the panel toward the edge of the panel and toward said other leg of the L-shaped supporting element and across the panel supporting means thereof.

HERBERT J. WOODALL. 

